Alex Delaney-Gesing 

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From patient care and treating glaucoma to the ongoing pandemic, ophthalmologists share the most pressing thoughts of concern leaving them awake at night.

Empire Eye and Laser Center (Bakersfield, CA); 

UCLA Jules Eye Institute (Laguna Hills, CA); 

Stein Eye Institute, UCLA.

Watch the first two installments:

What keeps you up at night in ophthalmology: Part II

Videos

From patient care and treating glaucoma to the ongoing pandemic, ophthalmologists share the most pressing thoughts of concern leaving them awake at night.

What keeps ophthalmologists up at night: Part III

Read the article on Dr. William's presentation here

During the 2021 Glaucoma 360 meeting, Ruth D. Williams, MD, speaks on the highlights and key findings from the EAGLE study, which showed clear lens extraction surgery may be a better initial treatment for some glaucoma patients.

Treating PAC, PAC glaucoma with CLE

Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc (Neurophth), a subsidiary of Wuhan Neurophth Biotechnology Ltd, and AAVnerGene Inc have announced the launch of a strategic partnership that will grant Neurophth global rights to mutually select adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids for the creation of the next generation ophthalmic gene therapy.

, a screening platform by AAVnerGene — AAVnerGene’s Tissue-specific, Highly-transductive and Expressive New AAVs (ATHENA) — is designed to select the best AAV vector for each cell type in a high-throughput manner.

While AAV is the most widely-used vector in gene therapy, its cost and efficacy needs significant improvement, according to Daozhan Yu, AAVnerGene CEO, in the news release.

“Suitable AAV plays a vital role to achieve the success of a gene therapy,” Yu said. “Our ATHENA platform is designed to select the optimal AAV vector for different cells and diseases.”

The proprietary technology creates capsid libraries obtained from artificial intelligence machine learning, DNA shuffling or directed evolution, therefore allowing a significant increase in AAV genetic payload capacity, production, and transduction with the ability to penetrate through the inner limiting membrane of the retina, according to Alvin Luk, PhD, MBA, Neurophth CEO, in the release.

This could potentially enhance the overall transduction efficiency of capsid library-derived vectors, Luk said.

“If proven successful, the administration of the selected AAVnerGene capsid variant(s) in gene therapy may enable repeated dosing AAVs in both adults and pediatric patients, Luk said, “potentially improving the clinical efficacy at a lower vector dose with better penetration of the barriers in eyes using a safer and less invasive procedure such as intravitreal injection, which lower the risk of immune response to the capsid."

Per the agreement, Neurophth will make an initial cash payment to AAVnerGene to test ~100 AAV capsids. Once acquiring the capsids, Neurophth is expected to complete preclinical studies on the capsids within six to 12 months. Upon completion, both companies will jointly evaluate the capsids and select the appropriate ones for further development, according to a news release.

Once the appropriate capsids have been selected by both companies, Neurophth has agreed to pay AAVnerGene additional cash and/or to potentially purchase AAVnerGene's common stock – based on Neurophth's achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, according to the release. 

Further, Neurophth will pay AAVnerGene royalties for the sales of any commercialized gene therapy that results.



Articles

Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc (Neurophth) and AAVnerGene Inc have announced the launch of a strategic partnership that will grant Neurophth global rights to mutually select adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids for the creation of the next-generation ophthalmic gene therapy.

Neurophth and AAVnerGene partner on AAV capsids for next-gen ophthalmic gene therapy

With a new year officially in swing, our editorial team has taken a pause to look back at the unprecedented events of 2020 — and the impact on coverage 

 took the spotlight for the most popular topic among readers. But not all of our pageviews went to the coronavirus.  

Take a look at the top 10 articles that’s been most talked about — and read — in the last 12 months:

Alan S. Crandall, MD, remembered for impact on ophthalmology


In October, the ophthalmic community mourned the loss of Alan S. Crandall, MD, of the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. Former colleagues and ophthalmic leaders paid tribute.

Identifying the value of physician assistants in ophthalmology


In this video interview, Divya Srikumaran, MD, of the Wilmer Eye Institute, discusses the results of a study published in the American Journalism of Ophthalmology regarding the growth and shift of the physician assistant profession into specialty care as well as the more valuable role PAs are taking in providing healthcare.



Researchers find low risk of COVID-19 transmission in tears


Back when initial knowledge about COVID-19 was still coming to light, investigators in Singapore discovered that the virus does not seem to be present in the tears of patients.


In the second installment of our ongoing video series, clinical professionals and pharmaceutical representatives share what keeps them up at night within the ophthalmic and glaucoma space

Watch the first and third installments here:



What keeps you up at night in ophthalmology?

What the reopening of ophthalmology could look like


Nearly two months after issuing practice guidelines for ophthalmologists at the beginning of the pandemic, the AAO began taking steps in late April to consider the reopening of ophthalmology care. Professionals from around the country weighed in on how their own practices would proceed, pending state guidelines and individual institution's situations. 



AMA, AHA, ANA issue open letter urging Americans to wear masks to slow spread of coronavirus


In light of a surge of COVID-19 cases hitting across the country during the summer season, the 

 issued a join letter urging all Americans to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

AAO: New recommendations to EyeMDs for urgent, nonurgent care amid COVID-19


In the early days of the pandemic and issuing of stay-at-home orders, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) issue a statement strongly recommending all ophthalmologists provide only urgent or emergent patient care — including both office-based and surgical care.



Myths and misconceptions about autologous serum for dry eye


The logistics of prescribing autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) have changed dramatically in the past few years, making their use far more convenient for patients and physicians alike. Joseph Tauber, MD, touches on common myths and misconceptions about ASEDs that are no longer true.

The eye and COVID-19: Providing facts, not fears


With a great deal of information and misinformation on COVID-19 spreading in the news last summer, Ella Faktorovich, MD, resorted to scientific literature to offer clinicians answers on how to provide a safe environment for patients



Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19


Back in June, a team of researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that a case of pink eye may be reason to get tested for COVID-19.



See what ranked most popular in our top 10 stories of 2020. 

Alex Delaney-Gesing

Articles

Treating PAC, PAC glaucoma with CLE

Neurophth and AAVnerGene partner on AAV capsids for next-gen ophthalmic gene therapy

Top 10 stories of 2020 on Ophthalmology Times®

What keeps ophthalmologists up at night: Part III